More pics of Azara

Some new Azara pics

School report

When Azara came home from nursery the other day she had her first school report. It's very sweet and quite amusing to read, telling us when and how much she eats, drinks, sleeps etc, but also that she loves touching other children on the faces, likes looking at books and playing the drums and maracas. Actually, she loves the experience so much that she cried on Monday when Jon came to pick her up. He said he walked up the drive way and could here her chattering away to the other children who are all older than her. I think the interaction with other little people is brilliant, she certainly seems to be blossming and -- rather unsurprisingly -- seems to be very headstrong already. We went to London on the train yesterday as I had a training course at the BBC to allow me to take freelance shifts at the World Service. She spent the journey there and back talking in a very animated manner to people, almost shouting at them and presumably sharing her excitement to be going to the Big Smoke and to be spending some time with Nanny Hils, who looked after her when I was at my course. We had a lovely time, on what was probably the hottest day of the year so far, with a sandwich on the South Bank, but unfortunately Azara was so exhausted from her big adventure, she didn't really make the most of Nanny Hils' excitement and eagerness to show her the ducks in St James' Park, although yet again it seems she liked the drums at the Changing of the Guard. It makes me think of the AA Milne poem, either that or 'Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?' Well on that literary note, I had better go and get a couple more Bean-free errands done before Daddy brings her back from nursery. I hope to get some more pictures on the blog soon, but time is becoming an increasingly rare commodity these days.
Love to you all,
H

Who's a big girl now?

Azara has gone to nursery for the first time this morning. I feel slightly odd about this, but am sure she is having a whale of a time. The nursery is a few miles away in a little village on the coast and amazingly it's run by a Peruvian woman.
I've had an absolute mound of admin to deal with this morning, so this will have to be short and sweet, but I just wanted to update you on this rather momentous day. If the list of my errands ever gets shorter, I hope to have time to write more.
Thanks to those who have pledged to sponsor me for the 10k so far. Lots of love, Hannah

Support please

I know this blog has become rather Azara-centric over the past few months, and I'm not making any excuses for that. But, I wanted to mention two other issues which are very important to me. The first is that Jon and I are running the Lymington 10k next Sunday (13th) for the RNLI. Jon is already a volunteer for the lifeboat crew here and this race is seeking to raise money for this brilliant association that helps so many people every year. So, if anyone feels particularly generous, please could you sponsor me. I know I've run 10ks before, but this could be tough as I've still getting fit after having Azara and I'm trying to shake off a chest infection which means I haven't run for two weeks.
Secondly, something which I am sure strikes a chord with any journalist and anyone who believes in the right to have a free press and in the bravery of people who continue to work as journalists in difficult situations. I'm sure you wil all have heard how the BBC's Gaza Reporter Alan Johnston has been kidnapped. The BBC is asking people who have blogs to include this link Hopefully, this will give you more info on Alan's situation and allow you to add your name to the petition for him.
Thanks to all of you who read this.
Hannah

All aboard

A couple of pictures to mark Azara's first time on a boat. If Daddy has his way, this will be the first of many, many times. This was yesterday on Moonhaze, which belongs to Jane and Graham, the parents of Jon's best friend, Tom. It was a beautiful evening, after a fun day when we took the fantastic Babyjogger that Papa bought us and Jon ran with Azara and I cycled down to Keyhaven, a village on the coast several miles away.

Azara at seven months

Greetings from Lymington, where Azara has just turned seven months. As you can see, she's a lot of fun. We're about to go out, but I thought you'd like to see this pictures, even if she still looks a little androgynous.

Nearly seven months

The biggest piece of news I have to report is that Azara's first tooth is coming through. This, couple with a stinking cold, has meant a pretty tough week, not helped by the fact I caught her lurgy too and Jon has been working like a demon. It's scary to think that our little baby is nearly seven months old, but as you will see from the pictures here, she is growing like a weed and is a lot of fun. Unfortunately, she is just waking up from a nap and as I am home alone, I'll have to leave this entry as short and sweet. Wishing you all lots of love. Hopefully I'll update this again soon. At least we now have internet at home, so I should be able to get the chance to write soon. In the meantime, before she starts squawking, she's enjoying trying to stand up, eating lots of exciting things and really loves yoghurt and banana, and likes waving at people and trying to beckon them to her with a rather royal looking wave. We've also found a nursery for her to go to. Emotionally, I'm finding this concept quite difficult, but it's run by a Peruvian lady, so perhaps it's meant to be. Must dash. Love to you all. H xxx